South Asia Citizens Web

We write to inform you of the urgent situation of human rights defender Teesta Setalvad who is facing criminal prosecution in India. In the course of the Indian government’s investigation, Ms. Setalvad has had her home raided, her bank accounts frozen, her freedom to leave the country suspended, and her privacy invaded by multiple interrogations. She also faces constant fear of possible detention and subsequent ill-treatment.

COLOURS have strong associations and tend to be coded in our psyche. They are linked, sometimes inexorably, to our politics, culture and social biases. The way we respond to people, events and situations is prompted by the colour coding embedded in us, however subtly these triggers might work. Often our responses symbolise rank prejudice.

Santasilan Kadirgamar, known as Silan amongst his friends and fellow activists, passed away on Saturday July 25th 2015 in the 81st year of his life.

The hounding of Teesta Setalvad is timed to coincide with the publicly articulated urge of the Prime Minister to get a "clean chit" from the courts in relation to the ongoing cases in Gujarat, which Teesta has been doggedly pursuing. She is the victim of the pursuit for justice.

The ashes of Indian journalist, peace activist Praful Bidwai brought from New Delhi were immersed at a ceremony held at the bank of River Indus near Al-Manzar point in Jamsoro near here on Saturday.

Pakistan Peace Coalition (PPC) Sindh organised the event, which was attended Sindh United Party (SUP) President Jalal Mehmood Shah, Karamat Ali of Pakistan Institute of Labour Education and Research (PILER), Zulfiqar Halepoto, General Secretary of Pakistan Peace Coalition (Sindh), Suleman Abro of Sindh Agriculture and Forest Workers Coordination Organisation (SAFWCO), peasants leader Punhal Sariyo, Zulfiqar Shah of PILER and others spoke on the occasion.